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Friday, March 18, 2011

Limitless movie thoughts

Limitless was different than we thought it would be. First of all, it was more fun. Second of all, it had more action and intensity than we expected. It’s also a lot more violent than we thought it would be. The premise is a lot like the premise of Mathilda, only with drugs. Pills open up a guy's brain so that he can use the full potential of his mind. The movie asks you to accept this outlandish premise, and it’s easy to do so. The movie raises more ethical, psychological, and social questions than it does scientific ones. The direction is good and so is the pacing. By the time the end rolled around, we were shocked that it was over so soon. It could have held at least another 20 minutes. It’s sure to entertain. We liked Bradley Cooper, the man just about every guy we know is jealous of, in the lead role. He managed to make us care about a character who was about as selfish as a normal human with new powers would be. Cooper’s character, Eddie, asked us at some point in the movie, “What would you do?” Good point. Most of us have thought about having superpowers. Ok, maybe that’s just us nerds.

Eddie used his new super brain to get ahead in life. He wanted to change the world, but it seemed like he wanted to make his mark for his own sake, and he always took the high profile route so that people would see him. He used his brain to make money, not to work out the world’s poverty problem or restructure struggling communities or cure cancer, etc. The pills gave him intellectual gifts but no wisdom. What could you do if you were limited? The movie’s answer is you could serve your ego even better than you do now, “improving yourself.” And it could also get you laid a lot. We have heard it said that there are two great tests in life: Success and suffering. Both bring out what you are really made of and what your priorities are. We think Eddie failed both tests in this movie, but the movie wants us to honestly ask ourselves if we would pass them when he did not. It also asks us if we would take the pills at all or remain as we are. We appreciate those questions. One character who handled the drug differently than Eddie did? Eddie’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, Lindy. She recognized that the drug changed who she was and would be dangerous after one try. Most of the characters are both relatable and believable.

What could have made this movie better? More humor. The funny moments were few. The narrator could have had a dark wit, like the Fight Club narrator, because he was a writer and could have been believably witty with words, rather than just telling us what was going on. If the script were cleverer, the movie would have worked on a smarter level. It was great to see Pushing Daisies’ Anna Friel uglied up. We can’t believe she would let them do that to her pretty face! Another TV face we saw was the guy who played Bart Bass on Gossip Girl. He had a small role, but still.

Spoiler warning- Don't look at the comments if you don't want to know the ending
Thoughts about this particular movie would not be complete without discussing the ending, but we want to keep things spoiler-free. Click on the comments, and the first comment by “Ern and Leeard” will be the rest of this review, in case you have no interest in seeing the movie or you have seen it and want to discuss the ending.

Movie Grade: B
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85 comments:

  1. Ern and LeeardMarch 18, 2011 at 6:09 PM

    On the ending: We loved it, because it might have been ambiguous. Also, it was unexpected. Usually movies like this turn into morality tales. He loses his powers, but learns to appreciate normal life. He loses his powers, but gets the girl. Whatever. But this movie, shockingly, ended with Eddie having a super brain to keep, the upper hand, and about to embark on a political career. He also had the girl. We loved this, because it was the last thing we expected. This movie didn’t preach at us. But the movie also left us wondering: was Eddie lying to Robert DeNiro’s character about not taking the pills anymore? Was he still on the pills, or did he manage to taper off? Did his brain really get rewired to stay smart without the pills (the plasticity of the brain makes that possible, if this drug existed in the first place, but still). It seemed too perfect. Eerily perfect. Say it DID end perfectly for Eddie/he was telling the truth. Then Eddie weasels out of all his problems, mistakes, lies, and even murder. Some people may think the movie makes drugs look appealing. We disagree. The movie isn’t promoting drugs. What the movie promotes is success at any cost. Means to a glittery end. As long as you are slick, rich, and smart, you are limitless. We can’t quite phrase why, but that doesn’t ring true to us. It seems like a trick. If the ending was not meant to be ambiguous, then it was a quick fix.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousAugust 4, 2012 at 2:11 AM

      I know this was ages ago but I just caught this film last night and stumbled on the blog. I notice at several points in the discussion people say he got away with murder - he didn't murder the girl. The guy who had been following him and working for the tycoon who was contemplating a merger with Eddie's boss did it, so that Eddie would need to use the high-powered lawyer and they could discover if Eddie was on NZT and then get it back. Their plan works except that the lawyer keeps the NZT and the merger tycoon guy dies.

      Delete
    2. lis cameliaSeptember 12, 2012 at 8:42 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  2. UnknownMarch 18, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    i think he's still taking it because he said "what makes u think i only have one drug making place" to the old guy. Also he said he fixed the drug and made it more workable

    i dont think he's taking it because that girl wouldnt be going out with him if he did still take the drug, also he wouldnt lie to that old guy he already told him once about the medication

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ern and LeeardMarch 19, 2011 at 5:33 AM

    Good evidence. It's a tough call. You pointed out that he fixed the drug to make it more workable. Maybe he's taking a similar, but new, drug instead? He was a little creepy at the end. We liked it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ern and LeeardMarch 20, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    Soooo, we went to our trusty resource, Wikipedia. This is what it said happened at the ending: "Eddie reveals that he had his team reverse-engineer the NZT, creating a permanent dose which he has taken, giving him all the benefits and none of the side-effects of the drug."

    Did anyone else think that was super unclear? Now we think the ending was way too happy and cheap.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 20, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    the ending was useless... it should have been the perfect start of a villain... the way it ended now just shows that some smart guy (who btw is not the smartest person in the world) solved the NZT problem in 1 year. which means that all Robert De Niro needed to do was get everyone at the lab on the drugs and... BAM, solved. now all the researcher (which btw would be smarter than Eddie b4 he took the drug) and Robert De Niro all are super smart.

    instead the movie should have ended as the birth of a villain. By him destroying everyone who knew the drug existed. that would prove to be a much tighter ending w/o all the loose ends that this ending have.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ern and LeeardMarch 20, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    You know, the way that guy just used the drug to serve himself and get rich and famous, once he gets the power trip of being president, he probably will become a villain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 29, 2013 at 9:12 AM

      I believe everyone is missing the whole point of him making the money. He had an idea that went on evolving and in order to achieve that idea he needed to make money. Along the way, he gets side tracked by all the great things that money brings and of course protecting himself from the Eastern Europeans and the tycoon's hitman. He wanted to "get things done in the world" How can you make the biggest impact across the globe? One way is becoming a senator or president. I didn't see it as an ego trip or the search for fame, but for a bigger better vision of humanity.

      Delete
    2. UnknownApril 29, 2013 at 9:24 AM

      I didn't see him as serving himself or being on an ego trip. I believe that he decided to make lots of money because it was necessary, in order for him to reach a position where he could effect an overall global change. As he said "get things done in the world" What better way to get things done than to be a senator or president armed with intelligence and knowledge to persuade the most social and economical persuaders in the world. I believe he had a noble idea or vision that he was striving for. Along the way, he gets distracted by great things that money can bring and protecting himself from the tycoon's hitman and the shady Eastern European and his mob.

      Delete
    3. Ern and LeeardApril 29, 2013 at 1:35 PM

      Every monster has a noble idea and good intentions

      Delete
  7. AnonymousMarch 20, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    oh... sry 4got to clarify what i meant by destroying...

    IF. during the last scene when they were in the chinese food was changed a little.

    Instead of Eddie ordering food in chinese, the girl did. (which reflected at the middle of the movie where he impressed her with ordering in italian.)

    also if there was a TV in the background (which normal ppl who are watching the movie would ignore) was on the news channel. with the news of "Animal right protesters" (or something of the sort) turning violent and decides to "bomb" the company that created the drug killing everyone inside (including Robert De Niro who was visiting the lab at the time shown in the boxed picture in the news) and destroying all research

    that way only ppl who pay close attention to the movie would catch this. while it does not point directly to Eddie being responsible for it. it does leave it at a more suggestive state than what is the ending now.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ern and LeeardMarch 20, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Yeah, that would have been good.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousMarch 20, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    I dont know if there is a definite answer to the ending but there were some clues like someone earlier posted about him being with the girl who clearly stated she would not be apart of his life if he was still on NZT. On the contrary, Eddie was very adamant about his lunch he had to attend to. Was this just because he really did want to be on time, or was it because he knew he needed to eat to stay healthy on the pill which was established to be a necessity earlier in the movie.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ern and LeeardMarch 21, 2011 at 3:18 AM

    He might have just wanted to get away and have lunch with his wife, but maybe

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 at 3:56 PM

    Does anyone know the conversation that was being said at the very end?? Can anyone translate?? Would that maybe reveal something?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ern and LeeardMarch 21, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    We surfed the Web to try to find the conversation and couldn't.

    We are officially going with the Wikipedia explaination until the movie comes out of video and we can rewind it multiple times.

    Wikipedia says: "Eddie reveals that he had his team reverse-engineer the NZT, creating a permanent dose which he has taken, giving him all the benefits and none of the side-effects of the drug."

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownMarch 21, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    so wait he took one dose and now he's smart forever?

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownMarch 21, 2011 at 11:23 PM

    i think his wife person would be mad if he did that

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ern and LeeardMarch 22, 2011 at 5:36 AM

    He said he worked out the kinks though, so maybe she didn't mind as long as he was in control and not the drug

    ReplyDelete
  16. UnknownMarch 22, 2011 at 6:18 PM

    oh

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousMarch 24, 2011 at 7:37 AM

    Overall I thought the movie was great. It flowed brilliantly, and had a very intresting plot line. As much as people don't like the whole "I did a bad thing, yet overall i still win at the end of the movie", I don't believe this happens enough. Movies these days to oftenly fall in to the same rut, depending on the genre of movie you are watch, watch enough of it and the plot become predictible. I prefer alternitive endings in which things don't turn out the way every other movie of the same genre dose. Sure everything turned out great, but why shouldn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ern and LeeardMarch 24, 2011 at 7:48 AM

    True. It was the absolute last thing we were expecting. We don't know if it was the most satisfying conclusion (some are calling it anti-climactic), but we appreciated the surprise.

    ReplyDelete
  19. LundenMarch 25, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    I had mixed feelings..I, too, wanted the movie to last longer..What I considered to be "limitless" was this guys ability to keep saving his own ass! I mean, drinking the blood! This movie went for every stretch possible. I feel that because Cooper went with at least for reasons why De Niro should back off, it sounded like he was still on the the drug and playing it by ear. 1. I could have people making the drug elsewhere 2.I'm 3 steps ahead of you anyway 3. You'd just end up as my bitch if I worked for you 4. I tapered myself off the drug


    My gues, the last scene...the girlfriend just throws in te towel on the whole drug conversation. Notice how success was her priority in her frst scene. Why rock the boat?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ern and LeeardMarch 25, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    He DID claim about a million things. We guess the bottom line is that he was still making the drug work for him. He was still smart, he was still going, and he had a handle on what he was doing, whether it was good for him or not. That’s not a happy ending. That’s an eerie. Dark, Twilight Zone ending.

    As for wanting more, we can see a decent sequel to this. Someone else comes around and starts taking the drug and goes through adventures, but this time, Eddie is the villain. He’s drunk on power, making himself into some sort of political, rich monster. Sounds like a recipe for a better sequel than most sequels.

    ReplyDelete
  21. LundenMarch 25, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    THAT's what I said!! A sequel. My husband was like, "Err..it's an Indy film, doubt it." I wanna see more from his girlfriend's p.o.v. She rocked the chase scene. The kid with the ice skates was brilliant.

    Or....he has a son who takes it in his adolescent years and Cooper has to teach him how to control himself.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ern and LeeardMarch 25, 2011 at 3:52 PM

    It did well enough at the box office to get a sequel. And no offense to your husband, but a) this was not an indie film and b) indie films sometimes get sequels too, once they've gotten popular

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousMarch 26, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    Ok, did anyone not think the girlfriend looked way too put together at the end? Like she was a user now too? And also, does anyone think his x wife was on it when she left him? He narrated about how smart and perfect she was in the flashbacks. Also, the fight scene in the subway, did he kick his own leg in that sequence?

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousMarch 26, 2011 at 11:53 PM

    Wow, three different hairstyles in one movie. I loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ern and LeeardMarch 27, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    ^hahaha

    And someone else kicked his leg

    ReplyDelete
  26. AnonymousMarch 27, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    I agree the ending made it look like the girlfriend was more put together then before and she looked like a user. Maybe he had his lab alter it so it would leave them more like themselves. Her problem with the drug was it made her do things she normally wouldn't do. If his lab could control those urges I think she would take it. I think his ex-wife did leave him while she was on the drug, or at least that's what I took out of it.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ern and LeeardMarch 28, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    Ok, you guys have convinced us.

    And we really want a sequel.

    ReplyDelete
  28. shellshockApril 4, 2011 at 3:44 AM

    Well I just watch this movie and when I saw the ending I was like wtf. I felt like my intelligence was insulted, I thought it was shallow, horrible, over simplified, extremely stupid, as a matter of fact I felt like I needed one of those clear pills just to sort out the emotions I was feeling after watching the movie. And when it kicked in I flashed to that scene after he jumped off the cliff and said quote "suddenly I knew exactly what I needed to do, it wasn't writing, it wasn't books, it was much bigger than that". And that basically it would take a lot of money to pull this idea off. I'm pretty sure that idea was to feel limitless 24/7 without the use of drugs, and (I'm just guessing at this part) be a massive changing force in mankinds history (be it for good or bad that remains to be seen, I'm betting on bad given the nature of man). Anyways, dude makes several allusions to the great master plan that he has, and basically preconceives then add libbs his way to this end, hurdled only by master plans from other individuals (who just happen to be on the same drug).
    The only other obstacle is Deniro (savy old school business/investor) whom he anticipated figuring everything out. Lets him; and then proceeds to let Deniro take over his pharmaceudical company (and whatever other assets he has) to make Deniro think he's got control over his drug production facility, his funding for his senate/presidency run, and ultimately him. Only to show (Deniro) that not only is his the aquisition of his parmacuedical company irrelevant (because he as already perfected drug and made himself perma-limitless) but he just made Deniro fund his whole senate campaign. Wow! Quote: "I'm 50 steps ahead of everyone"
    And in true hollywood fashion (which was contradictory to the whole movie) he lives up to his word, and comes off the drugs. Gets the girl who now not only has clean hair cuts to get use too. But a whole "new man" as he puts it.
    If I'm right about this; and I think I am. This movie is the shizzzaaatttt.
    Sorry bout the long winded explaination but I think my drugs' wearing off. I hopefully my wit made it an interesting read.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ern and LeeardApril 4, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    We definitely like your thinking. In fact, that makes a lot of sense. We just thought he was anticipating a political career, but your explaination fits better.

    And the whole premise of the movie was silly as hell. And impossible. And philosophically troublings. Entertaining though.

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousApril 5, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    Just watched Limitless,

    i have to say, mind blown ...

    as for the ending, his girlfriend rolls her eyes at him at the end which makes it seem as if she is a little bit annoyed at him. I think she would be even more mad if he was actively taking it, but she would be happier if he wasn't taking it at all.
    that being said, i think the Wikipedia explanation fits almost perfectly.
    I didn't really think the ending was bad. However, it was surprisingly abrupt.
    Yes, a sequel would be fantastic if they made it right. I can see him becoming a villain, but im just not sure if i would like that. Also, the protagonist would then have to get access to this drug somehow because i don't see a way of someone who isn't smart beating someone who is. (unless, his drug starts wearing off, and he doesn't have access to anymore.)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Ern and LeeardApril 5, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    That's why he would make such a great villain! He would be pretty much unstoppable, totally corrupted by power. Which, he would be, in reality. He already is.

    This movie was so much better and discussable than we thought it would be.

    ReplyDelete
  32. RenanMay 15, 2011 at 12:04 PM

    If you take the tv show John Doe, subtract the Identity Bourne amnesia part, you get LIMITLESS! Ta daaa!
    Ok, fine... The film is ok, I guess... I just think they could try a little harder, I mean, if you are shamelessly copying a 2002 tv show, the least you can do is to work on the script, right?

    ReplyDelete
  33. Ern and LeeardMay 15, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    We should check John Doe out. Haven't seen it...

    ReplyDelete
  34. AnonymousMay 21, 2011 at 8:14 PM

    Maybe De Niro helps out the new protagonist whos after Eddie...

    ReplyDelete
  35. AnonymousMay 21, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    What I don't understand is how Eddie communicated with the researcher in order to re-engineer the drug. They leave a gaping plot hole there which blurs the outcome. Any other thoughts on if Eddie is still on the drug, whether re-engineered or not? Or is he truly clean (and did he really learn Chinese)=)?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Ern and LeeardJune 4, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    People are still confused! We've decided that he's still taking the drug, only a new, better version. The ambiguous/who knows? ending would have been better. Like the spinning top in Inception. We still want a sequel to make things clear though.

    Hundreds of people have found this blog due to this discussion. We hope they've found some sort of answer that satisfied them, haha.

    ReplyDelete
  37. DelJune 9, 2011 at 3:18 AM

    Okay, I just watched this movie and it's been a while since I've watched a movie that brought up these types of feelings. I hated it AND loved it at the same time.

    I loved it because overall, including the ending, it was good. However, I also hated it because of this guy's stupidity. Let me explain:

    If he could see soooo clearly from taking the drug, the most obvious thing that should have occurred or came to his mind was that he would eventually draw way too much attention by rising to success so frigging fast! The drug should have given him the ability to think "wait a minute... Let me play it low and get rich and successful the longer way. Let me first find a guy to make some more of this or stabilize it so it's no longer harmful to me and THEN I'll start going all out."

    I could keep writing more reasons I hated the movie - like how INCREDIBLY STUPID it was that this guy got so much money in so little time, and he had not paid the debt to the THUG who he borrowed the 100K from????? ANYONE EXPLAIN THIS STUPIDITY!? He had a few millions... why would you let a known thug come looking for you if you could pay him 10x what he lent you all cash?? lol just plain stupid and IMO and oversight by the writers.

    I could keep naming more but this would turn into a book lol.

    ENDING: I really can't believe NOBODY here noticed or mentioned this... It was clear he was still on it at the end. His conversation with DeNiro's character was the obvious clue. The other clue and the most subtle one that I can't believe nobody has discussed here: Look at his and his girlfriend's eyes. When he was on the drug, the color of his eyes was much more bright. The same thing applies to his girl.

    Throughout the movie both of them look normal. When he was on it and that time at the park when she had to take it their eyes would pop and stand out.

    This obviously suggest they were BOTH on it at the end. What is not clear is whether he was still taking the pills or found a way to stabilize it, therefore reaping the rewards but not having to take it anymore.

    My guess is the second. His girl told him she wouldn't be with him if he had to keep taking it. Meaning she couldn't be with someone who was a slave to a drug. The fact that her eyes were as bright as his at the end suggests that she hopped on board because he'd found a way to no longer need the pills.

    Last hint to this is: remember how the thug told him he should first dilute it and inject it directly into the bloodstream? That could've been what helped finding the permanent solution with help from researchers/lab techs.

    I really found this site trying to find out what he said at the very end. No such luck yet lol.

    Nice blog though. Keep it up :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Ern and LeeardJune 9, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    Very observant^

    ReplyDelete
  39. Dot ComJune 28, 2011 at 4:08 AM

    I just watched this movie. [Spoiler] I think he is still on NZT at the ending. Did anyone notice simply that before he asked the scientist to do something with that drug for only 6 months; while when he was trying for senator election, it was already 12 months after? And, my other hypothesis is the reason why he still kept his lab opened from month 7 - 12 might be only to divert/trick his competitors. hehe, i dont know if i'm right / not here, just my assumption. :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. AnonymousJuly 15, 2011 at 12:57 AM

    He is obviously on some form of the drug, because the person at the end of the movie, is a far cry for the person at the beginning. The real question is how was he still on it. Also, I think if he was even able to taper off, he would have relapsed when stressed out about robert de neiro's proposal. He would have taken the drug in order to find a way out, similar to how his girlfriend used it when being chased. This is probably why he was able to speak chinese, and why she had a sort of concerned look on her face, when he met her for lunch.

    Another point, how come we never find out if he killed that girl during his black out? I am curious to know what actually happened during the black out period of the movie.

    The best part of this movie is the ending, we are able to create the ending that we want. Great movie.

    ReplyDelete
  41. AnonymousJuly 19, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    I really like the movie because of its pace, Bradley Cooper and the plot.

    BUT, there is something seriously morally disturbing here. Think about him drinking that guy's blood - are we supposed to cheer him on for fighting on through this desperate situation, or be revolted and saddened by the lengths he'll go to to get his (life saving) fix?

    Known anyone with a serious heroine addiction? If you have, my guess is that you'll be doing the latter.

    BTW, what kind of drug experience do you think is being depicted here in the "rushing through the city" scenes? I'm voting for non-anxiety provoking acid/ketamine mix.

    Feeling ambivalent? That's what this I feel too after seeing this movie. Loving and hating it in equal measure.

    Disturbing because the ending just did not seem right - by which I mean morally right. It goes against every rule we know. Nothing comes for free. You will pay someday for your free ride. And the way he crushed De Niro - the representation of the protestant work ethic and the wisdom of experience - is essentially lauding his luck and arrogance, when he should be punished. Like Icarus.

    But then I think, hey, it's more interesting to take that deeply ingrained archetype and kick it to the curb. So good on them for trying something new.

    And what would we do, if we came up with a drug that had absolutely no side effects, that was completely safe, and made us more fun, and insightful and effective? If there was a version of ecstasy that had no downer, and no dangers. Would you take it? Would you still be you? Remind anyone of Iain M Banks' Culture novels?

    ReplyDelete
  42. Ern and LeeardJuly 19, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    We feel the same way as you did about this movie. That's why we want there to be a sequel with Bradley as a villain. That's what he turned into.

    Never read Banks, but maybe we should.

    ReplyDelete
  43. AnonymousJuly 20, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    Have anyone read the novel that this movie was based on? I am interested to know what's the end of the novel comparing to this movie ... I feel like this movie was running out of time and so the director was trying to shuffle everything in the end ... but not doing a good job.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Ern and LeeardJuly 20, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    That's called "The Dark Fields." If anyone reads it, let us know.

    ReplyDelete
  45. AnonymousJuly 22, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    Husband & I just watched Limitless, trying to find out more -- as you all are.... I guess they wanted discussions like this to take place... I didn't catch there was a conversation @ the end everyone missed -- I think we started talking 'cause we were so perplexed !!??? Actually, the movie was on satelllite and we could've backtracked a few times to see if we could hear... will see what we can do. I'll bet you the answer is NOT there either ...
    Strange movie.... he's obviouls totally in control, so much so, he can tell DeNero, the owner of the lab that manufactured the drug - that he doenst need him or his money and can't be bought... either he's still on a modified version or he found a way to wien off & still have clarity ... how else would he know the accident was going to happen & Japanese etc... She did say she wouldn't be with him but I think he found a way make it work on the drugs... Maybe we'll find out more down the road, maybe not

    ReplyDelete
  46. Ern and LeeardJuly 22, 2011 at 10:13 PM

    Yeah, we thought the movie meant it to be ambiguous too.

    Limitless came out on DVD two days ago, so we guess that's gonna breathe new life into this discussion.

    ReplyDelete
  47. SamJuly 26, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    Perhaps by the movie's end, he really had been weaned off the drugs.

    When he said he'd modified the drugs and worked out the kinks, he was probably talking about the drug he was on in the meantime while weaning off.

    The clarity and intelligence he has at the end? Perhaps he was able to become like that without the drugs. Perhaps the point being made here is that once a person learns that they are capable of great things, the sky's the limit.

    The drug may have made him realise that the human brain is capable of such things. So he trained his brain up to be able to concentrate, see everything and have great insight... all without the drugs.

    This might be wishful thinking. But I guess if we take Eddie's word for it that his synapses have been altered from the use of the drug, that may also be a factor that helped him too.

    The interpretation that he is still on the drugs is a bit... stupid in my view. If he was still on the drugs, he has every reason to fear De Niro's threats. He may be smarter than De Niro, but if De Niro had access to the pills and he still is a very very powerful man - he could potentially disrupt his supply of the pills.

    At the end, Eddie seemed like a man who truly had nothing to fear. A confidence that can only be explained by not having to depend on any pills any more.

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  48. Ern and LeeardJuly 26, 2011 at 9:55 AM

    We think he made one permanent super drug in his lab. One that wired the brain forever.

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  49. AnonymousAugust 1, 2011 at 12:26 AM

    Just a quick commentary about YOUR review, Ern and Leeard - honestly, the best, most well-thought out, fullest review of this movie I've read. It made me think a bit more about success and consequences. Thank you.

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  50. Ern and LeeardAugust 1, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    Thanks!

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  51. AnonymousAugust 4, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    If you look closely to Lindy's eyes (at the end of the movie) they are lit as well (sparkly like his becomes when he's on the drugs...) Anyone else noticed that?

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  52. Ern and LeeardAugust 4, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    Yup, agree. Whatever he's on, she's on it too. The permanent dose, we think.

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  53. AnonymousAugust 5, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    When i watched the end I was under the impression that he was simply letting the vanloon guy think he had the upper hand and then let him know that his blackmail is useless. I also thought that when hes senator and "tapered off" NZT he seemed a little different than he was the whole time he was taking NZT. Im not sure exactly how to describe it but i definetly noticed something off

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  54. AnonymousAugust 6, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    Sam "The interpretation that he is still on the drugs is a bit... stupid in my view" Wow, your puny intellect makes me laugh! Did you forget that Bradley diagnoses a fatal heart condition in DeNiro's character? That means that DeNiro could very well die before the supply of pills gets cut off, giving plenty of motivation for Bradley to make a bluff. Ern and Leenard also show a lack of imagination in their review, because if Bradley was only interested in success, he would have continued to make money and not gone into politics. Imagine being Bill Gates instead of Obama. The "plan" is obviously, make money, to get elected and get power, in order to make positive change in the world. Finally the movie itself is stupid because Bradley should have thought of securing a steady supply FIRST. This was actually the experience of a bright ADD friend of mine who was prescribed Adderall. Not as dramatic as the movie of course, but... You earthlings are stupid, stupid, stupid!

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  55. Ern and LeeardAugust 8, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    HAHAHAHAHAHA. Sure, it would be wiser to achieve success through making money rather than politics (and the pill only gave him smarts, not wisdom). But in politics, you get more famous and respected, and you get to be on TV. What good is success if no one gets to see it? It's pretty hilarious that you watched that movie and decided that his priority was to do good in the world. Maybe it's his afterthought.

    You must know some nice politicians if you think the reason people get into politics is to serve other people. We think it's about power and ego, otherwise the politicians in Washington would be a little less useless.

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  56. AnonymousAugust 11, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    Just watched this movie not too long ago. Liked it. I was thinking it has a bit of a religious overtone with the drinking of the blood. The bad guy....Gennady...had refined nzt by dissolving it in a solution and Eddie ended up drinking the blood of him which resulted in the lasting, permanent effect of the drug. All he had to do was kick the side effects of the pill afterwards....but had the lasting effect of the drug in his brain as a result of drinking it in the blood. there is life in the blood so to speak.

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  57. AnonymousAugust 14, 2011 at 4:22 AM

    Y'all are way to serious. Movies are an escape and some of the more outrageous ones are certainly that. I have not seen a thriller plot that was seamless or believable in 10 years so just enjoy it. This was a fun movie. BTW, I think that he was indeed off of (at least the original recipe) the NZT because he did not know the status of that lab until Deniro's character informed him of that. Whether or not there was another source and whether or not he was lying to his squeeze is not determinable either because his character was called into question right off the bat. In other words, the protagonist is basically, a sleazebag. I like the anonymous guy above me who suggests that the permanent effect arrived from drinking the blood; but that's just too much of a leap even for a "fantastic" flick like this. Just my two cents.

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  58. Ern and LeeardAugust 14, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    We LOVE taking movies too seriously, especially when they have ideas and themes that are serious in real life or are a reflection of culture. We think the individual success theme is rampant in our culture. Whereas some cultures are more focused on tradition, community, family, and fitting into your place.

    If you don't question almost everything, you will unconsciously take on views that might not be true or good for you. We over-analyze things so that Hollywood directors don't make choices for us.

    But we agree about the blood thing. We think that's taking it too far. We also didn't see a religious overtone there, and we are interested in religion enough that we feel like we catch everything even remotely religious in everything we watch, haha.

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  59. AnonymousAugust 15, 2011 at 6:54 PM

    Couple of things, when Eddie was not able to pay back the thug it's because he had had a blackout from taking too much of the drug. Yes, the drug made him capable of using all his brain space, however, hard drugs can have uncontrollable consequences such as withdrawal and even blackouts(where you are doing all kinds of things but don't remember doing them). Secondly, remember how he mentioned that if he wasn't moving forward he felt he would go crazy? He apparently wasn't able to stop and think about consequences because he was so compelled by the drug to KEEP moving forward with his actions/thinking/plans, etc.

    Ok so for the ending...I seriously was like, WHAT THE HECK! ugh. I pounded my fist even. Craziness. I would LIKE to believe that he is OFF NZT. Like others said, maybe he weaned off and then bettered himself because he knew he was capable of learning and growing. Also this scenario would mean he learned from all the bad things he went through - people died because of him and he even killed 3 guys who were after him. It would mean that he realized having the drug wasn't worth all that stuff. He could have been bluffing deniro for sure. He could have easily done some research on deniro's character about the heart valve problem...Anyway, I like to think he was off the drug. The dvd they are selling in stores has special features(unlike the one i Rented! lame). It also has an alternate ending!!!
    As far as the moral implications...I find it interesting that the drug made him able to use his brain and recall things that had long ago been stored, but it didn't make him WISE.

    One other thing I didn't get was what was his grand plan supposed to be, running for senate?? Or prez?? That must have been it, now that I think about it because he mentioned that the plan would take a LOT of money(a campaign is EXPENSIVE). I guess they wanted to leave that part of th eplot open to interpretation.
    I'm kinda sad that he chose to do all kinds of partying and getting it on with the ladies and cheat on his GF while on the drug...I mean seriously...that's just mean. And how many STD's do you think this guy now has after all that, not to mention drinking the drug dealers' blood- that's just nasty and probably full of disease. Oh well!

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  60. AnonymousAugust 21, 2011 at 2:43 AM

    "he chose to do all kinds of partying and getting it on with the ladies and cheat on his GF while on the drug...I mean seriously...that's just mean. And how many STD's do you think this guy now has after all that"

    WOW...

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  61. AnonymousAugust 23, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    So I have a thought about the last few scenes:

    In Eddie's conversation with DeNiro's character, he predicts the car wreck between the van and the taxi, and he says something like, "I'm 50 moves ahead of you and everybody else."

    I think Eddie is still on the drug, and that he hasn't even necessarily had it engineered into a safer version. When he and DeNiro are in his office and DeNiro says "we closed your lab this morning," you can see Eddie's face get that scheming, "I've got you right where I want you" look. He's got his story all worked out. He doesn't have to be off the drug; he just has to have a convincing enough story to keep DeNiro in check.

    Here's what I think: the writers (and maybe Eddie-as-narrator) are having some fun with us. Eddie tells DeNiro the car crash will happen, and it does. I think he also "tells" us how the movie ends, and we swallow it. When he says, "I'm 50 steps ahead of you and everybody else," he's also talking to us, the audience. He puts this whole buffet of possibilities out there for us, some of which might be true-- that he has "2 or 3 or 4 more labs," that he's "off it but learned something," that his "synapses have changed,"-- but I think all he has really done is realize that, with NZT, he's SO much smarter than everyone else, he realizes that he can basically spin an air-tight convincing story for everyone else (including Lindy and DeNiro and millions of voters), basically creating the reality he lives in by so convincingly controlling people's perceptions of him. I mean come on: he's a politician :-)

    Seems to me that he's still on the same old pill, but is only truly "limitless" (in guile, power, ability to control people, especially the audience etc.) at the very end of the movie. Let's not forget that it's Eddie who is telling us this story all along; he can-- and probably has been-- spinning it how ever he wants. He's nothing if not a narcissist.

    Just a thought.

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  62. Pizza GuySeptember 8, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    I think the ending is meant to be ambiguous. These are fictional characters, after all, so there is no one "true" meaning at the end. But to me it certainly suggested that he was still on the drug.
    Having said that, there were all kinds of holes in the story and things that just didn't make sense. I'm not going to bother to list them here and now but the point is, you shouldn't think too much about this one. If you do, you'll only realize how in so many ways it just doesn't add up. Just take it as a fun story with a deliberately ambiguous ending.

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  63. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2011 at 10:11 AM

    Definitely ambiguous ending... My wife thinks that his intention was to use the drug for good. That his experiences with it were not as self centered as they seem. I disagree, I think that he used the drug selfishly (making suits that had hidden pockets for the pills, always trying to hide things from everyone - except he couldn't hide it from his girlfriend)... I think his ultimate goal is to become president - doesn't (almost) every presidential candidate come from the ranks of senators and/or governors? There is definitely a meteoric rise to power story here. Was he still on the drug or did he perfect it? Hmm... good question. He did survive it and was still in control (his ex-wife was off the pill, but a mess!).
    Another good question is what the police do with all the deaths that keep happening around him.
    Sequel!!!!!!!! Please!

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  64. AnonymousOctober 3, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    My husband works for big pharma and we both thought a great ending would have been that nzt was only a sugar pill ( placebo) the brain is capable of many great things as long as you believe! ;)

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  65. AnonymousOctober 4, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    'At the end he said that he perfected the drug and he tappered off. Then he and von loon go back and fourth and then Eddie says I maybe off it but you think that I haven't learned anything that my synapses has changed. If you remember his exwife told him earlier in the movie not to quit cold turkey to tapper off. When he perfected nzt I think it left a lasting effect on him. My question is of was off the pill why did he still have a lab? Was he selling it? Also it would've cool if his wife/girlfriend would've spoke in Chinese at the end.

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  66. AnonymousOctober 17, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    Here is a link to a site that talks about what he was saying at the end in the Chinese restaurant: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110321005500AAtJeJJ

    (not helpful to explain the ending, but folks were asking)

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  67. DeebeeOctober 28, 2011 at 6:16 PM

    Just watched the film and the alternate ending.


    In the alternate ending he is definitley on the drug and the ambiguity was if he really would /could give it up. Which was ok but I prefer the ending they went with because of all it's ambiguity.


    It did feel as if he was scheming / lying his way out of DeNiro's trap a great double twist ending, and with ordering in Chinese adding another twist. That's what makes the ending so enjoyable keeps pulling the rug from under your feet.

    My 10 pence: if he still had a lab running and if he was planning to go all the way to president then he was still on the drug and lying to his girlfriend that he wasn't.

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  68. AnonymousNovember 3, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    Wow, i just read the review and the blog and i gotta say wow. All these comments and no one seems to notice the obvious. This is a propoganda film, complete with messaging that money, power, and drugs are all anyone needs to be successful (sound like any one else you've seen)

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  69. AnonymousDecember 14, 2011 at 6:18 PM

    So I just saw this movie. The reason he begins his political career is to do some good for the world, not just gain more power. He mentions the idea earlier in the movie. I don't remember what part 'cause I watched it in like 4 sittings on Netflix. lol.....over all I found it to be very well done. Both entertaining and very thought provoking.

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  70. AnonymousDecember 18, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    he is definitely planning to do good, he said wall street will be his nest egg, the dudes got a plan in the works and knows the necessary move to get things done. the ending isn't ambiguous its comedic, has no reason to lie, says hes off of it and has retained some of it's benefits

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  71. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2012 at 6:27 AM

    For the comment that the ending was "too happy": The pill is "too perfect" and lets you solve any problem. If you have the capability to solve any problem, all of your endings will be "too happy." Just my thoughts, he got his life back by figuring out the way to no longer take the drug but retain all of the information.

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  72. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2012 at 8:33 AM

    what about the hands in the safe? makes no sense. You are all concentrating on the wrong issue here!!!!

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  73. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2012 at 2:30 PM

    I would like to point out that Eddie tells the researcher to make a copy in the drug in only 6 months (for 2 million). At the ending a screen tells us that it is '12 months later'. This suggests that the pill has already been made before Robert DeNiro’s character meets Eddie again. Which supports the idea that Eddie is still on the drug (but is still ambiguous about is the drug's side-effects have been removed).
    The only evidence against this is that Robert DeNiro’s character claims to have destroyed Eddie's lab; but this could again be a different lab maybe perfecting the drug, or just a hoax.

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  74. Ern and LeeardFebruary 4, 2012 at 4:44 PM

    Ya'll should watch "Primer" and argue about that.

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  75. JennaferFebruary 21, 2012 at 9:45 AM

    I liked this movie. Instead of Disney morality, we get real-world dealings with complex issues, and modern commentary on the notion of success. The thing that blew my mind the most was when Eddie was talking to his ex-wife, and she said the reason she stopped taking the drug was because "you can't be this good forever," which ironically led to her illness post-quitting. Why can't you be "good forever"? I guarantee the ones at the top are not afraid of their eventual downfall, just as a surfer isn't afraid of the end of the ride.

    Disbelief, fear, and frighteningly, emotions, seem to be the things impeding everyone in the movie, which the drug conveniently erases. If you were aware of (or believed in) how intelligent you could be, and were able to use that intelligence without any guilt, shame, or concern for the welfare of others, you would get ahead in the world. Basically, the drug turns them into sociopaths, which is eerie to watch, but not unrealistic in terms of success. The only question is, do we root for a sociopath? Like I said, it was refreshing to see something besides the usual "protagonist = morality vessel" formula for a movie like this.

    Thanks for the review. As a female carbon copy of Eddie's original self, the movie left me emotionally confused, but inspired.

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  76. EamonApril 4, 2012 at 12:48 AM

    Everything has been discussed make up your minds however you will.

    But consider this tidbit of information everyone missed.

    Perhaps him speaking in Chinese at the end was him simply FLAUNTING his abilities to his girlfriend, both of them knowing he is off it while still having permanent effects somehow.

    If you rewatch it, as I have, watch the scene again. It DOES look as if she's annoyed but that's only because that is what the viewer expects. Mind is tricky that way. If you watch it again, just watch her face. It actually does not look annoyed. Just... quizzical. I think he was flaunting and she was not amused.

    I think he had permanent effects and she knew, and was okay with it.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousApril 4, 2012 at 4:45 PM

      I don't know much about everyone's thoughts about the end, although that's probably what was intended by the director. I could be wrong.

      But the ending came clear to me really- this is what i got.

      He did quote that he will get off the pill and that he will be together with her clean off it- Yes- i believe he is off it and did get a permanent version- hence his demonstration with the truck taxi cab accident and by finding out the poor state DiNero's heart is in.

      secondly- At the end he met up with lindy, and I really think lying to her would be seriously stupid since he lied to her before.

      Another analogy of mine was lindy (his girlfriend) took the pill once before, and i'm sure after you take one pill and stop you would die- but in the end he's alive. Knowing that his girlfriend is in trouble would also give him the intention of finding a way to permanently be in "smart mode" since that's the only way they both can survive.

      and in the end-

      him and the asian man just had a little joke saying - he wanted some pancakes and a lobster with no Msg-

      The waiter replied but it will keep you warm (because Msg in mandarin sounds like Scarf because of their different pronounciations)

      He then ends off- not if my hands are clean ( as he gestures his hands out)

      His girlfriend didn't look confused to me in the end- as she rolls off her eyes in a way that gave me the intention that he understood him and was laughing with him in a sarcastic manner.
      How does she understand? - also clears up my evidence that they are both in permanent "smart mode" and she also learned mandarin and possible more other languages.

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    2. AnonymousApril 4, 2012 at 5:05 PM

      ^ (cont.)and to answer the question of why he still needs a lab in the end- I think it was a hoax- because when DiNero says that he shut down his lab- He does a believable smile- Hey I mean, he's a year while being the smartest man alive- using 100% of your brain heightening up each sense and making you have a super brain- i'm sure your capable of doing that

      Delete
  77. AnonymousJune 2, 2012 at 12:06 AM

    There is another interesting reason to believe that he went into politics for good......he originally wanted to write a book (which he eventually did) about a utopian society....so I think he wanted the money to a) change himself and be limitless all the time and b)change society as well. It seems he is about to win the senate race so he is obviously proposing a lot of great changes for people to want to vote for him. If he really was a villan he would be fine pushing through the pharma's plans at the end.

    I do think he is feeling the affects at the end and his girlfriend is as well..... They are too bright-eyed not to be but its def. unseen whether they are on it still but my gut says he had the drug altered so the effects were permanent but he isnt on it anymore.

    The biggest issue with the film besides its gaps in story at times, is that it really leaves the drug world a bit idealized in the minds of the viewers which I dont think we need at all in the collective consciousness. It would be best if we see movies of more underdogs achieving great things through their own will power to perservere. However, it is interesting to note that most amazing things are achieved through altered states of consciousness but we dont need drugs to get there!

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  78. lis cameliaSeptember 12, 2012 at 8:44 PM

    This is what i understood from this movie. We all complain that all the powerful people are selfish and got to be powerful by doing bad things.Mostly politicians, we all think that most of them suck and that they are screwing us over and stealing our tax money(at least that is what i think of the ones in my country).

    BUT what if we got to be in their place, what if we got a pill that made us super smart and powerful, would we be as selfish as the ones we complain about or would we be different? according to the movie we would be as selfish an ambitious as all of them. And, that we would not get punished for being selfish and committing crimes, because in real life that rarely happens to powerful people anyways

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